Adjustable awning for use on boats, beaches, and elsewhere



NOV. 18, 1952 c. G lsgc; 2,618,285

' ADJUSTABLE AWNING FOR USE ON BOATS, BEACHES, AND ELSEWHERE Filed Feb; 3, 1949 INVENTOR. CHAFZES GEO/F65 HHS/6 VIM- Patented Nov. 18, 1952 UNITED -STATiES PATENT OFFICE ADJUSTABLE AWNING FOR" USE 'ON'BO'ATS, BEACHES, AND ELSEWHERE flh'a'rleszGeorgeHeisig, .StnAlhanseN; Y.

.LApplication February 3, 1949,ISe1'ialNo."74,'307

Claim. 1

'Thisinvention'rel'ates toan' adjustable awning for "use "onsmall boats, .011 beaches,'::oniprivate homes and elsewhere.

' The awning constituting the present invention isjuniversal in its constructionand use. .It is adaptable for attachmentitothe sidewof a house, aSfor-example, above the porch. iItisalso mountableupon 'a 'boat and more particularly .a small boat such 'as'a'rowboat, sailing boat,,motor-Iboat or'thelike. 'It is "equallyr'adaptablejforuseon the-beachf'oraj'lawn, or in picnic groundsan'd similar locations.

"Onefof the principal features of the awnin herein described: and claimed is a clamping. bracketwhic'h is adaptable 'formounting upon fthe sides or gunwales of airowboat'of'the type used on inlandwaters'for fishing purposes. Similarly theclamping bracket of" the present, invention is adaptablefor "mounting on a stake driven into the ground whether .in-a'la'wn or on the beach.

building,"such"as a private home, suitable supports may be provided on'which .the clamping Another important featurepf the present jlinvention the factthat the awning .or icanopy proper'is'of elongated rectangular shape. "This adapts itfor use on a rowboat, as the drawing clearly shows, since'it covers those partsof the boat which accommodate the fisherman. Heretofore umbrella-shaped awnings have been employed on rowboats as well as on beaches and lawns, but itis clear from the shape of these awnings that inadequate protectionagainstthe sun must necessarily be. provided. Anumbrella- J shapedawning may suflice Where one personis concerned, but where .two or more persons seek theprotection of its shade, it is quite inadequate.

.Still another importantfeature of .the present invention is the fact that its supporting arms are offset for mounting upon a support'which is off to theside of the awning proper. Inumbrellashaped awnings, the supporting shaft extends centrally of .theawning or canopy proper. In the present invention, the supporting arms are bent '20 When the awning is tobe used on the sideof a to extend laterally as"W11='a;s' d0WnWardly,with respect "to the center "of the--awning. "*T-hus it is that these' supportingarms -may be clampew'to thesides of arowboat but the awning'properwill remain supportedcentrallyof' the-rowboat. The adjustingfeature of the present invention, above referred to, islocated central-lyof the awning. By-reason=of this "adj us'ting' feature, -"the"awning may be tiltedto" either" sideiofthe rowboat"irrespective or the side to-whieh the supporting arms are clamped. It will be "clear, therefore hat althoughthesupportingarmgare=clampedto the starboard side of the boat, the -"awning*mayb'e tilted to port side and conversely the sup'poi-tin g arms may "be clamped-to the 'por-t s'ide 'and the awning tilted to the -starboard' s-i'de. -In either case, the awning anay, -'of 'course, =be held= in= a central position -relative to -'the--two sides pi -the boat or it may be tilted tothat side-'onwhiclrr the supporting arms are mounted.

A further feature of the invention is theadaptability of the bracket-clamps for mounting'on supports which are in alignment or disalignment with each other. The curved side ofarowboat is illustrative. Despite this curvaturefithebrackt clamps are readily attachable to either or both sides of the rowboat. Both clamps; andhence' the supporting 'arms, may be-attached-to one-side of the rowboat at anyone time, or 'to'theother side of the rowboat at any one time, 'or on'e-of invention is thefeature which 'rendersfthe'awning frame adjustable to changesin .fdimensi'onsfof the awning. It iswell'kn'own that an awningof given'dimensi'ons in a d1"yjstatepossesses'ldilferent dimensions in a wet jstate. .Thefframe supports the awning ini'ithe present .inventionis readily adjustable to compensate-forsuch-dimentional changes in the awning.

The awning supporting .frameisadjustablein still another sense. .It is .adjustableto accommodate larger or smaller awnings. fThe' awning frame is telescopically adjustablers-o.thatlonger or shorter awnings may be accommodated with-.- out the slightest-bit of.difiiculty. v

Although the awning has 'hereinabove been described solely in terms of its being a shield against the rays of the sun, it is equally useful as a Windbreaker, since it may be tilted a full 180. The awning is generally maintained in a horizontal or nearly horizontal position. It may, however, be tilted to a vertical or nearly vertical position for the purpose of protecting the occupants of the rowboat or the bathers on the beach against the wind. Similarly the awning may be used to protect them against the rain. since the material of which it is made should preferably be highly resistant to water.

Another important feature of the awning herein described and claimed is that it. is readily portable, so that it may very conveniently be carried or transported from place to place. This feature stems from the fact that the frame of the awning is collapsible or demountable, so that it may be reduced to the proportions of a rela tively small, handy package. It may be assembled wherever it is to be'used without the need of special tools or equipment.

-A further important feature of the invention is the free, uncluttered space which it provides under its canopy. Its supporting arms are offset relative to the canopy leaving a wholly unoccupied and fully usable space underneath said canopy. This feature is especially valuable in small boats where a central support for the canopy would obstruct free movement of the occupants centrally of the boat, which is necessary to avoid rocking the boat.

Preferred forms of this invention are shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an awning made in accordance with the present invention, showing said awning mounted on a rowboat;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary end view of said awnin partly in vertical section;

Fig. 3 is a view of one of the toothed adjusting members of said awnin Fig. 4 ma similar view of the complementary part of said toothed member, showing the springurg ed tongue, which engages the teeth of said toothed member;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary section on the line 55 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a view of one of the clamping brackets by which the awning is mounted on the side of the rowboat;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view in section on the line 1-'! of Fig. 2;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View through the nut portion of the longitudinally adjustable frame of said awning;

Fig. 9 is an end view thereof;

Fig. 10 is a transverse section on the line l0l U of Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 is a view of the swivel mechanism of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows H-Il of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary view, similar to the lower portion of Fig. 2, showing a second type of supporting bracket by which the awning frame may be mounted on the side of the boat.

The awning of the present invention comprises a cover or canopy 20, a frame 21, supporting said canopy and brackets 22, which are adapted to clamp said frame to any suitable support, such as the sides of a row boat 23 or the tops of stakes driven into the ground.

The canopy is preferably of elongated rectangular shape as Fig. 1 of the drawing clearly shows. It has a top portion 25, and four down-,- wardly extending side portions or curtains 26.

The lower portions of said curtain-s may be scalloped as shown at 21 in Fig. 2. The material of which the canopy should preferably be made is the type of material that would best resist the effects of exposure to sun, salt water and other elements commonly encountered in the outdoors. It should also be sufficiently strong to withstand the strains and stresses imposed by strong winds. Awning material rendered moisture and mildew resistant would be suitable. A rubberized material or plastic coated material might also be suitable for the purposes of this invention. Duck would also be a suitable material, if its Weight is not objectionable.

The frame which supports the canopy is H-shaped, wherein the cross piece of the H extends longitudinally of the canopy and the two side members of the H parallel the two end portions of the canopy. These two side members of the H-shaped frame are designated in the drawing by means of the reference character 30. They are shown to be made of tubular material extending from one side of the canopy to the other. They occupy the angular space formed between the top of the canopy and its two end curtains. See Figs. 5 and 7. A tape 3| isattached by means of stitches 32 and 33 to the top and each end of the canopy, thereby forming a. pocket to accommodate tube 30 of the H-shaped frame. This tape prevents accidental displacement of the tube relative to the canopy.

Each tube 30 has a pair' of plates 35 affixed thereto, centrally thereof, by means of rivets .36. These plates extend downwardly from the tubes, one on each side of each tube, in parallel planes. They serve a purpose which will shortly be described. Affixed to each tube 30 and to the inner of the two plates 35 is a pin 38. This pin extends centrally of the tube as well as centrally and longitudinally of the canopy. a

The cross member of the H-shaped frame supporting the canopy is telescopically adjustable and it comprises an inner tube 40, which is in telescopic engagement with an outer tube 4|. Considering the two tubes 40 and 4| as constituting a single telescopically adjustable frame member, it will be seen that one end of said member is engageable with one of the pins 38 and the other end of said member is engageable with the other of said pins 38. See Fig. '7.' In order to attach said telescopically adjustable member to the two end members of the H-shaped frame, all that need be done, therefore, is to slip one end of said telescopically adjustable member on to one of said pins 38 and the other end on to the other of said pins 33. Screw means are provided in the telescopically adjustable member to fix its two tubular portions relative to each other. .A

preferred form of such screw means is shown in Figs. 7 to 10 inclusive.

The screw means above mentioned comprises a nut 45 and a cooperating screw 46. The nut may be fastened to the inner end of the smaller tubev 40 and the screw may be fastened to the inside of the larger tube ll. Reference to Fig. 10 I will disclose the fact that nut 45 is provided with" a plurality of radially extending lugs or ears 4'! and it will be seen in Fig. 9 that corresponding cut outs 48 are formed in the end portion of tubular member 40. These lugs are engageable with the cut outs to prevent relative angular, movepin or 'by any other suitable means, to the inside of 'tube Al to prevent relative movement between said bolt and said tube. A block 52, having a hole formed therein, is mounted on the shank of the bolt toprevent the bolt from wobbling in tube 4| and to maintain it in a central position relative :to said tube.

When it is desired to join the telescopically adjustable centrally extending frame member to the two end frame members, the two tubes 40 and 4|, which comprise said telescopically adjustable frame member, are joined to each other in the manner shown in Fig. '7 and screw 46 and nut-'45 are'thereby brought into engagement with each other. The tubes it and l are rotated relative to each other until they are drawn together sufiiciently, toenable them to enter the space between the two pins 33. The two tubes 40 and Mars then lined up with said pins and they are again turned relative to each other in the opposite direction. This causes elongation of said telescopically adjustable member and its two ends are thereby brought into engagement, respectively, with the two pins 38. Further, the turning of thetwo tubes lfi and il relative to each other causes them to press against the inner plates 35 to place the canopyun-der tension. The telescopically adjustable frame member may be removed from the canopy by. simply screwing it out of'engagement with pins 38.

Aflixed to each pair of plates'35, by means of rivets 58a, is a downwardly extending tubular member 5|a. This tubular member is in telescopic engagement with a larger or outer tubular member 5211, as is clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 7. Theinnertube is provided with a plurality of holes 53 and a pin 54, extending through a corresponding hole in tube 520. engages one of said holes 53 to prevent relative movement between said tubes 5|a and 52a. More than one hole 53 is provided in tube 5 la, so that said tube may be adjustably positioned relative to the other tube 520.. Each pair of tubes 5m and 52a may be considered :to comprise a single telescopically adjustable side frame member and there are two suchmembers, one at each end of the canopy.

The lower end of each of the telescopically adjustable members last above described is pivotally connected to the upper end of one of the supporting arms 2|, as above mentioned. The lower end of each supporting arm is connected to one of the clamping brackets 22, also first above mentioned. See Fig. 2. It will there be seen that each supporting arm 2| is bowed, so that its lower end extends in a substantially vertical line and its upper end approaches the horizontal. Aiiixed to the upper end of each bowed supporting arm 2| by means of rivets Gil, is a pair of notched members 6|. These notched members are substantially disc-shaped, having a centrally extending hole 62 and spaced notches 63 formed peripherally thereof. Aiiixed to the lower end of each tube 52 is a pair of disc-shaped plates 65, spaced from each other, and provided with centrally extending holes es. Rivets ti affix said plates to said tube. Plates E5 are so spaced relative to each other as to enable them to accommodate notched plates 6| between them. A pair of notches 68 are formed in plates 65 and it will be understood that said notches are situated for registration with the notches 63 of plates 6|. A bolt or rivet 69, extending through holes 58 and 62 fasten said plates 65 to said plates 6|.

It is by means of this construction that the adjustable side frame members are pivotally connected to 'saidsupporting arms 2|. :Abracket 10 is fastened-to each of said adjustable'side frame members by means .of the same rivets 61, which affix plates $65 to said side frame .member. Mounted on said bracket 'lflisa leaf spring H to which a tongue 72 is afiixed. This tongue is so positioned, under the tension of spring llgas to bring it into engagement 'withnotches 68 of plates 65 and with notches 63 of platestl. Actually tongue 72 'isin engagement with any onepair of registering notches 63 at any-onetime, and the position of the adjustable side frame member relative to its supporting arm 2| is determined by which pair'of notchesrto'ngue I2 happens to.

engage. A fingerpiece l3 is afiixedto tongue 12, so thatthe tongue may be removed from engagement with onepair ofnotches 63 to'bring it .into engagement with any otherpair of :such' notches 63.

To change the relative positions of the side frame members and the supporting arms 2|, tongue '12 is removedfrom engagement with one pair of notches 63, the side frame members are then moved relatively to the supporting arms,

and the tongue 12 is then released for engagement with another .pair of notches 63. .Spring M will hold the tongue in engagement withasaid notches until the tongueis manually. moved out of engagement therewith, by means of finger piece 13.

The clamping bracket 22 comprises arsubstantially u-shaped member 80, which is adapted to slip over the side of a-rowboat, as Fig. 2 clearly shows, or onto a stake driven into the ground. Two clamping screws 8| are connected to said bracket and it will be noted that each screw has a contact member or button 82 which is swivelly mounted thereon. A pair of U bolts 84 fasten the lower end of supporting arm 2| to one side of the U-shaped bracket member 86. If necessary, a Wedge-shaped block 85 may be provided between the button 82 of the clamp screw, and the gunwale 86 of the boat. Said wedge-shaped block may, of course, be placed on the opposite or outer side of the gunwale, if desired. Bolts 85 in said supporting arm 2|, above and below U bolts 86, prevent longitudinal displacement of said supporting arm relative to said bracket 80.

It will be appreciated that the connection between supporting arm 2| and bracket 22 is in the nature of a pivotal connection, so that said supporting arm may be turned relatively to the bracket or the bracket relatively to the supporting arm. It is this feature which enables the structure to be mounted on the curved gunwale of a rowboat or upon a pair of stakes, which are not in accurate alignment with each other.

Referring now to Fig. 12 it will be seen that a modified form of clamping bracket is therein illustrated. This bracket includes a U-shaped member 90, which is similar to U-shaped member 80 above described. Clamping screws 9| are provided in said U-shaped member similar in all essential respects to clamping screws 8| aforementioned. Instead, however, of making use of U bolts 34, the present form of clamping bracket includes a tubular socket member 92, which is fastened to the U-shaped member 90 and is rigidly reinforced thereon by means of rib 93. The lower end of supporting arm 2| extends into and through tubular member 92. A collar 94, which is pinned to arm 2 prevents said arm from slipping downwardly through tubular member 92 beyond a predetermined point. A cotter pin 95 on the downwardly and outwardly projecting end of said supporting arm prevents the arm from being pulled upwardly through the tubular member' 92, as when a strong gust of wind strikes the canopy at a favorable angle. Pin 95 is, of course, removable for the purpose of removing the supporting arm 2| from tubular member 92, when it is desired to do so. It will be observed from the foregoing that supporting arm 21 is free to turn in its tubular supporting member 92.

The frame members above described, which support the canopy, are made, preferably, of strong aluminum alloy, principally aluminum tubing, such as is frequently used for structural purposes in aircraft construction. Such material is light and strong and it adequately serves the purposes of the present invention. It is resistant to the corrosive action of sea water and the moisture laden air common to beaches and similar locations. The clamping bracket may, however, be made of steel, if aluminum alloy is found to be too weak for clamping purposes. If a ferrous material is used in the clamps, it should, of course, be adequately protected by galvanizing it or in any other conventional manner providin it with a protective coat.

The foregoing is illustrative of the broad principles of the invention and it will be understood that changes and modifications may be incorporated therein within the broad scope and spirit of the invention.

I claim:

In a canopy frame, a pair of bowed lower supporting arms whose upper ends are offset from the lower ends, a pair of upper supporting arms pivotally connected at their lower ends to the ofiset upper ends of the lower supporting arms,

selectively adjustable locking members on the pivotal connections between the upper and lower supporting arms for locking the upper supporting arms in selected angular positions relative to the lower supporting arms, a horizontal frame member secured at its ends to the upper ends of the upper supporting arms, and a pair of transverse frame members which are secured intermediate their ends to the ends of the horizontal frame member, said horizontal frame member comprising a tubular member, a rod bein provided which is accommodated by said tubular member in tele scopic relation thereto, and a locking member being provided between said tubular member and said rod to lock said tubular member and rod in selected relative positions and to prevent relative axial movement therebetween.

CHARLES GEORGE HEISIG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 138,774 Whitcomb May 13, 1873 201,561 Simonson Mar. 19, 1878 375,953 Richter Jan. 3, 1888 496,073 Thompson Apr. 25, 1893 597,845 Goodwin Jan. 25, 1898 614,364 Burnham Nov. 15, 1898 2,045,840 Davey June 30, 1936 2,199,915 Howard May 7, 1940 2,357,056 Nelson Aug. 29, 1944 2,502,103 Puls Mar. 28, 1950- 

